Immediate impact: The draftees who could line up in Round 1 2018

James Worpel is in line to play for Hawthorn in Round 1. Picture: Peter RistevskiSource: News Corp Australia

EACH season there are draftees who make an immediate impact.

Andrew McGrath made the transition look seamless in 2017, while in seasons past those with more mature bodies have also made the leap.

Here are the players who could line up in Round 1, 2018.

James Worpel (Hawthorn)

The Geelong Falcons’ captain, who was taken at Pick 45, is very much built in the mould of Richmond premiership star Jack Graham. A big bodied midfielder, Worpel’s frame is AFL ready — and his inside game is just what Hawthorn requires to help alleviate the burden on Tom Mitchell. Worpel averaged 21 touches throughout the TAC Cup and led his side to a drought-breaking premiership against the Sandringham Dragons. He’s ready to go.

Cameron Rayner (Brisbane)

No surprises here. The No. 1 draft pick, who has drawn comparisons to Brownlow Medal winner Dustin Martin, will almost certainly feature in Round 1 when Brisbane takes on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. An explosive midfielder who has incredible goal nous, the one query over Rayner has been his tank. He’ll need to work on that over the summer — and it’s expected that Luke Hodge will be one of his mentors leading the charge.

Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)

The No. 2 draft pick will learn off the best this summer, with Brayshaw tipped to shadow Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe as he plies his trade in the club’s engine room. Quicker than his older brother Angus, who plays for Melbourne, Brayshaw is a dynamic onballer who is just as prolific inside as he is out. The Dockers need another star midfielder — and they’ve found one in Brayshaw.

Paddy Dow (Carlton)

Touted as a possible No. 1 draft pick, Dow was ultimately selected two places later by the Blues. The 184cm Geelong Grammar product has drawn comparisons to Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield, particularly with respect to his ability to burst from stoppages. With Bryce Gibbs defecting to Adelaide, there’s a spot to fill in Carlton’s midfield and Dow will do so with aplomb.

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Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne)

The Dandenong Stingrays’ midfielder will be a walk up starter for the Kangaroos when they take on Gold Coast in Round 1. There’s no hiding that North Melbourne are in the midst of a rebuild — and Davies-Uniacke will be one of the key pillars to Brad Scott’s future plans. Rated by some as the most complete onballer in this year’s draft, Davies-Uniacke has a game turning capacity that North Melbourne is in desperate need of.

Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood)

The query over Stephenson’s rare heart condition saw him slide to Pick 6 in the draft, only months after he was touted as a possible No. 1 draft pick. The other clubs’ loss was Collingwood’s gain, however, with the midfielder tipped to line up come Round 1. Stephenson is quick, agile and can push forward. His foot skills will help boost Collingwood’s prolific, but sometimes misfiring, engine room.

Nick Coffield (St Kilda)

An U/18 All-Australian halfback, Coffield is tipped to move into the Saints’ midfield, complementing the likes of Jack Steven and Seb Ross. The Northern Knights’ captain averaged 22 touches across his four game for Vic Metro and is seen as a future leader at the club. Blessed with explosive speed and sound decision making, Coffield will add another dimension to St Kilda’s midfield.

Jack Higgins (Richmond)

Rated by Champion Data as the best kid in this year’s draft crop, Higgins lives and breathes footy. Higgins can play on the ball, but will more than likely start in Richmond’s forward line, where you’d expect him to edge out one of the mosquito fleet, perhaps Jason Castagna. An accumulator, Higgins has a knack of putting himself in the right position to find the ball. A steal at Pick 17.

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Tim Kelly (Geelong)

Kelly has followed in the footsteps of mature age WAFL draftees such as Marcus Adams, Nathan Broad and Sam Menegola. And hopefully, for Geelong, his transition to AFL will be equally as seamless. While the lesser lights in the Cats’ midfield stepped up this year, Kelly will make the battle for a starting spot all the harder. The 23-year-old averaged 26.3 disposals and 1.1 goals for South Fremantle in 2017.

Brent Daniels (GWS)

A small forward, and indeed one of the smallest players in this year’s draft at 172cm, Daniels is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Devon Smith, who was traded to Essendon. While Daniels is small by AFL standards, he is fast and a superb user of the ball. His inside grunt is what the Giants’ forwards have often been accused of lacking.

Bayley Fritsch (Melbourne)

One of the leading VFL prospects at this year’s draft, the Casey Demons forward was selected with Pick 31 by Melbourne. With Jack Watts departing to Port Adelaide it’s possible that Fritsch, who kicked 42 goals in the VFL this season, could fill the vacancy. A genuine third forward with a reliable left boot, his engine is also impressive, with Fritsch recording 21.2 in the yo-yo test at the Victorian state combine.

Charlie Constable (Geelong)

A steal at Pick 36, Constable is the prototype of the modern midfielder: tall, athletic and dynamic. Indeed, at 191cm and 86kg, Constable is just one centimetre shorter than Western Bulldogs’ gun Marcus Bontempelli. Like Tim Kelly, Constable faces a battle in breaking into a midfield that boasts Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and now Gary Ablett. But Constable, who earned All-Australian honours after averaging 26 touches in the national carnival, can also swing forward and back. He could start anywhere.

Ben Paton (St Kilda)

After being overlooked at last year’s draft, Paton returned to the Murray Bushrangers, where a shift from midfield to defence saw him catapulted into the Vic Country team from which he won All-Australian honours. Paton played two matches for Collingwood in the VFL towards the end of the season and impressed with his ability to match it against senior bodies.

Billy Hartung (North Melbourne)

Hartung’s outside run is clearly something the Kangaroos are lacking and for that reason alone you’d expect the former Hawk to line up come Round 1. North Melbourne is confident the 22-year-old, who was delisted by Hawthorn after 63 games across four seasons, can follow in the footsteps of players like Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite, who have had great success in crossing to the club.